Building
the “Top Ten” List
Identifying
sustainable practices with the highest environmental and economic
payoff
NOTE:
This is a DRAFT list. Suggestions
welcome
Employee
Education and Awareness
1.
Put articles and tips in agency newsletters
2.
Host brown bags: show
videos; host speakers; discussion forums
3.
Targeted training for key staff on sustainability; show
people that sustainability is possible
4.
Form an agency sustainability team to monitor progress and
keep momentum
5.
Develop and publicize a written sustainability policy
6.
Develop written procedures to ensure plan objectives are
implemented
7.
Collaborate with other agencies, vendors, students and other
stakeholders, to host sustainability workshop for interested staff.
8.
Tell them how they’ve done well – and how that translates
to results (for example, last month Agency X saved enough power to
provide lighting for 100 homes, etc)
9.
Post information in Cafeterias and break rooms
10.
Post reminders in strategic locations; change frequently to
keep messages fresh. Use
notices to educate about the impacts of choices (for example,
impacts of dioxin in bleached paper, amount of virgin pulp used to
make paper, # of trees that translates to, etc.)
OTHER IDEAS:
·
Voluntary pledges
·
Email sustainability message or thought for the month
·
Start a chat room on sustainability
·
Executive sponsorship and communication is key!
·
Start employee award system
·
Tie into performance agreements
·
Use staff meetings to educate; include in employee handbook
and orientations
Office environment
1.
Set printing default to 2-sided
2.
Separate recycle bins for high grade (white) and lower grade
paper
3.
Turn off equipment at night
4.
Purchase highest possible recycled content paper
5.
Purchase chlorine free paper
6.
Use durables for office functions
7.
Recycle stations for bottles/cans, CDs, batteries
8.
Buy environmentally friendly office supplies
9.
Office supply reuse and redistribution areas
10.
In-house furniture recycling, reuse
OTHER IDEAS:
·
Evaluate number of printers and reduce
·
Include a “don’t print this email” message on emails
·
On-line distribution of manuals and documents
·
Improve policy support for electronic filing practices
·
Eliminate or isolate indoor air pollutants
Transportation
(Vehicle Use)
1.
Encourage carpooling to business meetings (website)
2.
Use video conferencing/net meetings (no cost to use
K-20 system)
3.
Establish a travel policy
4.
Website to coordinate business travel (reduce SOV travel to
meetings)
5.
Promote the use of buses and trains for trips up and down
I-5, post schedules
6.
Review assigned vehicle use and necessity (maximize use and
efficiency)
7.
Purchase high fuel efficiency vehicles (hybrid; electric).
8.
Purchase alternative fuels for flexible fuel vehicles; Secure
alternative fueling stations (including biodiesel)
9.
Eliminate use of SUVs, unless absolutely essential (possibly
tax higher fuel vehicles)
10.
Commute Trip Reduction Programs
Purchasing
(Top commodities)
1.
Computers (flat screen monitors; manufacturer take-back;
minimize heavy metals)
2.
Copy/Printing Paper (less bright; higher recycle content;
chlorine free)
(start with a certain percentage and ramp up
over time)(GA to host trade fair to demonstrate different types)
3.
Cleaning Supplies (eliminate hazardous chemicals)
4.
Carpet (recyclable, made from recycled content, minimize
toxics)
5.
Vehicles (high fuel efficiency)
6.
Alternative fuels for vehicles and equipment (CNG, biodiesel,
others)
7.
Food; (locally or state grown; organic)
8.
Energy in Facilities
- consider
solar powered products
- buy
green power
- energy
efficient lighting
10. Chemicals
for Grounds Maintenance (eliminate persistent, bioaccumulative
toxins)
OTHER IDEAS:
·
Compost/Mulch for grounds maintenance (available from solid
waste facilities)
·
Document production (paper type, soy based inks)
·
Furnishings (remanufactured; sustainably produced components
– i.e., wheatboard)
·
Appliances (energy star; water efficient)
·
Preference to locally, regionally or nationally made products
(Doable, but need to have these products easily identified in
catalogs, etc.)
·
GA encouraged to take the lead on contract items; we need
vendors on board to list sustainable items
Grounds Maintenance
-
Use native plants and low water landscapes
-
Eliminate use of pesticides or herbicides containing
persistent, bioaccumulative toxins: adopt an Integrated Pest Management Planrated Pest Management Plan
-
Put language in contracts regarding chemical use
-
Lawn tear out; replace with native ground covers
-
Deciduous trees planted on south side of buildings; work with
solar orientation
-
Reduce/eliminate lighting in nocturnal habitat areas
-
Eliminate continuous hardened road and parking surface.
Plan for porous surfaces like porous concrete or geometric
block.
-
Apply mulch or large diameter bark for weed control in beds
-
Minimize
the use of gas powered 4-cycle and 2-cycle equipment
-
Use
cisterns for storm water reuse
OTHER IDEAS:
·
Reduce cutting frequencies
·
Design cut foregrounds with field backgrounds
·
Develop model plots to demonstrate to legislators and public
that sustainable landscapes can be beautiful
·
Train grounds staff for best practices; use DNR, extension
offices, etc.
New
Construction and Remodels
1.
Meet LEED certification; strive for silver
2.
Design for energy efficiency
3.
Use certified wood
4.
Maximize daylighting
5.
Low toxic interiors
6.
panent
7.
Ground source heating and cooling; include utilities in
pre-design and design phases
8.
Siting; brownfield versus Greenfield, transit link, housing
link, pedestrian friendly
9.
Consider water re-use
10.
Rainwater capture
OTHER IDEAS:
-
Tertiary water storage and treatement (e.g., “living
systems”)
-
Energy
management systems
-
Digital
controls; individual workstation level controls
-
Infra-red
switches on water
-
Solar
orientation/passive solar heat
-
Local
control of outside air
-
Use
GA/Energy Office audit services; use incentives for payback
-
Lease
boilerplate language for energy efficiency, etc.
-
Co-locate
with other businesses – foster “green business park”
development
Health and Safety
1.
Locate copy/printing machines away from work areas, provide
exhaust systems
2.
Vent all elevator shafts
3.
Create a cleaning schedule with a quality assurance plan.
4.
Adjust work stations to fit occupants
5.
Minimize or eliminate the use of hazardous substances in the
workplace
6.
Hands free restrooms
7.
Use environmentally friendly cleaning products
8.
Eliminate carpet
9.
Use locally grown organic foods in cafeteria (HCA
subsidy?)(tie to wellness programs)
10.
Reference wellness programs in sustainability plans (or
include)
OTHER IDEAS:
·
Evaluate building air intake areas; smoke away from building
entries
·
Change to flat panel heaters
Energy Efficiency in Existing
Buildings
1.
Replace lighting ballasts and use energy star
products/fixtures
2.
Establish a turn-off policy
3.
Educate staff to keep windows and doors closed
4.
Commitment to move to flat panel monitors for computers
5.
Optimize building commissioning
6.
Fine tune HVAC
Longer Term:
7. Resource/Energy
Accounting: track
historic utility use and cost and identify areas with greatest
savings potential
8. Implement
a Resource Conservation Program
Operation and Maintenance Projects
(low or no costs)
Alternative Financing Projects
Seek Utility Assistance for
financing
Use Energy Performance Contracts to
finance
10.
Purchase
Green Power (need policy support)
11. Develop
contract specifications for leased buildings – lease green built
first
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